Method of rolling structural units



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,860

A. W. HEINLE METHOD OF ROLLING STRUQTURAL UNITS Filed Aug. 24. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,860

A. W. HEINLE METHOD OF ROLLING STRUCTURAL UNITS Filled Aug. 24. 1921 s sheets sheet 2.

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iNVENTO R 1 QM I KJAM;,

y I l I Dec. 13, 192 7.

A. w. HEINLE METHOD OF ROLLING STRUCTURAL UNITS I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I Filed Aug.- 24. 1921 WW/M,

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

GRAFTON, r;

'an annr HEINLE, 02E

Application filed A ug -ust z l, 1921; Serial No. {194,817.

The present invention relates broadly to metal working, and; more particularly to metal rolling; a

An important object of the present inven- 5 tion is to produce a flat, curved, angular'or other structural unit having a predetermined taper or variation in thickness throughoutthe length thereof, WhlClL taper or variation may be in theoretical ,orgpractical accordance with the strength requirements of the article or structureto bez'formed therefrom 3 I Another object of the invention is to provide, by'rolling, a structural unit having the characteristics set forth. w

Still another objectof the present'invention'is to form any desired number of structural units having either the thickness thereof only, or both the thickness and the width thereof, varying uniformly, progressively or intermittently throughout the longest dimension thereof, s g r A :turther object ofwthe .inventionis to control the dimensions of. the finished unit by employing a master pattern torn ied to provide the desired taper, curve,'variat1on, :or .the: like. I

A still tur to produceby cutting and rolling, a finished structural plate, "bar or other unit havlng either a single or compound taper, curve, or other variation, respectively, in either the thickness thereof only, or'in both the width and thickness. 7 V

VThe .t'oregoing and other objects of the present invention, together with theirattendantadvantages, will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the accompanying specification and 40 drawings, forming a part thereof, it being premised that changes may be made in the various details and the manner of operation Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit ofthe inventi'on.

In the drawings,

Figure 1. is a plan view of a blank from which one form of structural unit may be produced in accordance with the present invention; v

.Figure 2 is a similar view of the blank cut'to provide metal stock' tor two structural units;

ther object of thet inventio gis -,Figure. 3 is a plan View of the stocksfor oneof the units prepared for rolling;'- Figure dis aplanvi'ew of thestockior another form funit; J i ,Figure .5 is a 'diagrammatic vieiy of one :EOIflQJOf.DIGChZLHlSBQ-Whlbll may be utilized for carrying out the present -inventidn;-: 7

Figure 6: isv a diagrammatic plan view of a]; portion ofthe apparatus illustrated in Figpreazi; w v .-':L :Eigures. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional viewsthrough modified forms oftrolls which may be utilized; in accordance with" the pres.- ent-inventioir; l

,Eigures 9 and 10 are views corresponding to Figures 5 and 6, respectively,"but illustrating a modified method oi carryingfout the present invention; and

Figure 11 is: a longitudinalsectional View through a modified term of masterfpattern. in order .to conserve material and produce a finished. article having; sufficient cross sectional area to withstand the maximum strains. and stresses lto which the article is subjected, it. is necessary to produce aflat, curved, angular, orfother shaped structural unit having either "its width or both its Width and thickness varying throughout the longest dimension or the unit, this variation being in accordance -with the varying strength requirements of' the finished article: theoretically or practically :determined. Such units having-oneormoi e of their dimensions varying throughout-the length thereof are useful, for example, in the construction of poles, posts, lowers, tanks, and other forms of containers and similar constructions. By the present in- =vention there may be produced by rolling apsuitable metal stock, a structural-unit havin the desired shape to answer the requirea: I ments generally referred to. Referring more particular 1y to the drawings, there is illust'rated in Figure 1 'a plan iewof a rectangular billet 1, adapted to be out along the diagonal dotted line'2 to j'separatethe billet into two blanks 3 and 4 varying in width-{throughout their length, as

indicated in Figure'2; Each of'these blanks may thereafterhave its ends trimmed sons toextend" atsubstantially rightangles t0 the longitudinal center line thereof, as shown in Figurefig This forms" the-metal stock from which may be produced by the present invention a structural unit having both its width and, its thickness varying throughout the longest dimension, as already set forth.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, the metal stock A, which is of constant thickness throughout its length but of varying width, is placed on a suit-able roll table 5 adapted to deliver the same to the upper roll pass formed by the upper roll 6 and the middle roll 7 of a three-high mill of any desired construction. Mounted upon a second roll table 8 is a master pattern 9 having its thickness gradually varied either uniformly, progressively or intermittently throughout the major portion of its length, the end portions 10 thereof being of uniform thickness to prevent dropping of the rolls after the rolling of the metal stock has been completed. The master pattern is adapted to .be fed through the lower roll pass formed by the intermediate roll 7 and the lower roll 11. It will be apparent that the rolls 6, 7, and 11 may be driven in any desired manner, as is customary in mills of this nature, in suchmanner that the intermediate roll 7 is free to move upwardly or downwardly to an extent determined by the setting of the screw-down 12 for the upper roll.

In rolling the metal stock A, the mill and roll tables are first started to bring the master pattern into the position shown in Fig 'ure 5, in full lines, with the beginning of its main tapered body portion in the bite of the rolls constituting the lower roll pass.v At this time one end of the metal stock A is brought into the bite of the rolls constituting the upper roll pass. Thereafter, continued operation ofthe mill will cause the intermediate roll 7 to be gradually raised in accordance with the increasing thickness of the master pattern, thereby decreasing the width of the upper roll pass and producing a corresponding decrease in the thickness of the metal stock passing therethrough. At the conclusion of the rollingoperation, the pat tern and stock, respectively, will be in the positions indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5, with the intermediate roll 7 raised to its dotted line position. At this time, the intermediate roll will be prevented from dropping 1 by the thick end portion 10 of uniform cross sectional area. In cases where it is desired to produce a material variation in the thickness of the stock, it will be apparent that the number of rolling operations to which it is subjected may be increased as required.

The master pattern 9, as shown in Figure 6, will preferably have a width substantially greater than the width of the metal stock A and occupy the major portion of the roll surfaces, whereby tilting of the rolls and consequent uneven rolling of the metal stock is prevented. If desired, suitable air or water sprays 13 may be provided for keeping the surface of the master pattern freed from scale and other foreign matter.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, each of the rolls 6, 7 and 11 is formed either with an angular circumferentially extending projection or depression 14, adapted to cooperate with an angular master pattern 9 and produce a structural unit A angular in cross section. V

With the modified form of rolls 6*, 7 and 11* illustrated in Figure 8, there may be :utilized a curved master pattern 9 adapted to produce a correspondingly shaped structural unit A Instead of utilizing metal stock A of constant or uniform thickness and varying width, I may start with a blank 13, such as shown in Figure 4, having both its width and thickness uniform throughout its entire length. In such cases, there will be'produced a structural unit having only the thickness thereof varying; while with metal stock A there will be produced a structural unit havingboth the thickness and the width varying. lVith either form of metalstock, however, it will be obvious that'the'edges of the finished unit may be sheared or otherwise trimmed, if necessary, and that either the upper or lower roll pass may receive the pattern. The present invention may also be carried out by the use of a two-high-mill constructed as indicated diagrammatically in Figures 9 and 10. Such a mill may comprise any desired type of roll housing 15 having a fixed lower roll 16 and a vertically adjustable upper roll 17 the movement of which may be regulated hydraulically, as bythe use of a hydraulic cylinder 18. These cylinders may have any desired form of check controlled inlet and outlet, as will be readily apparent. Each of'the rolls 16 and 17 is formed with necks 19 adapated to cooperate with master patterns 20, which may be connected in any desired manner, not shown, to cause the same to move in unison while the main body of the rolls intermediate the necks 19-is adapted to cooperate with the metal stock A being rolled. With a mill of this type, it will be apparent that the master patterns andthe metal stock are both fed into the rolls from the same side thereof, and that the rolls are continually forced together in accordance with the dimensions of the master patterns by fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinders 18 above the pistons therein. I

By the use of the present invention it is possible to produce economically, as by rolling, structural units of any desired cross sec tional configuration having the cross section thereof varying throughout the length thereof in either one or more of its dimensions. For example, instead of providing a master pattern having a straight taper, as hereto- 1,652,860 r p a fore referred to, there may be utilized a master pattern such as shown in longitudinal section in Figure 11, which comprises the end portions 21 of uniform thickness to prevent dropping of the rolls, and an intermediate body portion 22 abruptly curved or reduced in thickness adjacent one end and gradually tapering throughout the remain ing portion thereof.

The stock being operated upon may be rolled while it retains the original heat, or it maybe separately heated and then rolled, while the master pattern will be kept cool during the rolling operation.

By the term structural unit as used throughout the specification and claims, I intend to include any structural bar, plate, rod, or other shape adapted to form a complete article of sale or to be used as part of a composite structure.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the method of producing structural shapes by rolling, which possess the desired strength requirements without having any excess or unnecessary metal.

I claim:

1. The method of forming structural units, comprising subjecting metal stock to the action of rolls in a single roll pass, controlling the distance between the roll surfaces by a master patternpassing between the rolls, and

providing guiding means for said master pattern, substantially as described;

2. The method of forming structural units, comprising forming a blank of uniform cross sectional area throughout the length thereof,

splitting said blank diagonally to produce blanks of uniform thickness and varying Width, subjecting one of said last mentioned lar billet diagonally to produce a plurality of blanks having a substantially uniform thickness and varying Widths, squaring the ends of said blanks, subjecting'said blanksto the action of rolls in a roll pass, and varying the distance between the roll centers in accordance with the variations desired in the thickness of the finished unit produced from said blank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT WV. HEINLE. 

